DELAWARE STATE SENATE

140th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 24

OBSERVING THE MILLION MOM MARCH ON MOTHERS' DAY, 2000, AND EXTENDING BEST WISHES TO THOSE DELAWAREANS PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT.

WHEREAS, Mothers' Day, May 14, 2000, has been designated by an ad hoc organization of American women as the date for the MILLION MOM MARCH to be held in Washington, D.C.; and

WHEREAS, this event is being organized to mobilize American women - mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, godmothers, foster mothers, future mothers, and all others to educate our children about gun safety and to bring pressure to bear on Congress to enact "common sense" gun laws; and

WHEREAS, such recent violent incidents as the tragic shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and news reports of the proliferation of deadly accidents involving weapons has caused many women to conclude that they must act to influence their elected officials at all levels to adopt reasonable gun control legislation; and

WHEREAS, the march organizers advocate measures to better protect American citizens from violent crimes and tragic accidents involving the use of firearms through better controls on their sale and distribution, and to require gun manufacturers to equip their products with improved safety devices; and

WHEREAS, the group also seeks to stop what they feel is promotion and glamorization of guns by the gun industry through movies and television; and

WHEREAS, Faye Harris and Faith Queman are acting as Delaware coordinators for the Million Mom March and are seeking to organize a large delegation from the First State to travel to Washington on May 14 to participate in this event; and

WHEREAS, to dramatize their campaign, Ms. Harris and Ms. Queman cite the story of sixth-grade student Joseph Jaskolka of Wilmington, an honor student and gifted athlete who, while attending festivities in Philadelphia in the early moments of New Year's Day, 1999, was struck in the head by a bullet fired for fun up into the air by someone in the surrounding neighborhood, a traditional New Year's Eve activity; and

WHEREAS, the resulting injuries nearly killed the young man and have subjected him and his loved ones to a lengthy ordeal of hospitalization and disruption in their lives ever since the accident occurred; and

WHEREAS, this senseless occurrance is all too representative of accidents involving unregulated firearms; and

WHEREAS, those organizing the Million Mom March believe that it is possible to balance responsible use of firearms with common sense controls on their use in our communities;

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 140th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the members do hereby extend best wishes to those Delawareans participating in the Million Mom March in Washington, D.C., on Mothers' Day, 2000.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Delaware coordinators of the Million Mom March.